The Russellville Democrat., 1887-06-22


 scholars. Her valentine, she had de- cided, should be small but exquisite engraving that she had lately seen in shop window, entitled, '.St. Valentines Eve and which she knew would de- light the art-loving Hilda, whose father had been an artist, and had bequeathed much of his artistic nature to his only child; the hardest part of whose lotwas that she was compelled to pass herdays in an ugly, bare room, in n cheap board ing-house, where the green curtains were ever distress, and the gaudy red and yellow carpet was actual pain, and often haunted her feyerish dreams. It was with a light heart and step, there fore, that Myrtle. in her neat brown cloth suit and hat and warm sealskin jacket, started briskly down the avenue after school hours, on that bright 18th of February, the sunshine lighting up her reddish-gold hairand herfeet keep ing time with the merry tinkling sleigh bells that resounded on all sides.
 ''I hope the picture will come within my means, for my quarterly allowance is running altogether too low" she thought, as she turned into side street. Here she came suddenly upon a group of ragged street urchins, who with loud shouts and laughter were making merry over some thing in their midst.
 ''Git along there! Whoa, Januaryr they cried; and as the crowd parted foI an instant, Myrtle caught sight of the two forlorn little kittens that these cruel lads were dragging along by strings about their necks, and prodding them on with pins and sharp sticks. A love for animals and dumb creatures of every sort was Myrtie's strongest point, and now without moments hesitation she dashed impulsively right in among the young street arabs. exclaiming: You cruel, cruel boys, to tease these little creatures so!'' and caught one of the kittens in her arms.
 For second the lads were quite taken aback, then one said ''See here, Missy; we don't want 10 be sassy to a young lady, but you'd better drop that critter if yer know when you're well of. 5 "What are you going to do with them?n she demanded, with flashing eyes, while the little eat clung implor- ingly to her neck. "Have some fun with 'em and then drop 'em off the dock,' responded the spokesman of the party. '.But your sport is cruel, mean and unmanly!'' cried Myrtle, '.poor, poor litle thingsl" as the kit tens mewed piteously Please give them to me- No, sir-ee! They're our beastles, and we mean to have q circus with 'em.n In vain Myrtle coaxed, pleaded and threatened. The boys laughed at the police and scoffed at her entreaties; until at last, a little fellow, with singular old, keen face, suggested: "Mebbe the young lady would buy the wretches. :"
 Il will will give you dollar for them, said Myrtle. /Not enough" grunted the leader. with a wink at his companions, 1.-Two dollars then, J for the tiny claws clutching her shoulder were tugging at her heart-strings. Make it three and it's bargain. " The girl hesitated; there were only four dollars in her purse, and Hilda's pie ture was fading away into uncertainty. ''Itis an outrageous price, she thought, but as one of the youths laid rough hand on the kitten and tried to drag it from her arms she suceumbed, paid the money and, as the noisy party departed al, laft sf md ing alone in the frosty street. with the two dirty kittens cuddled up against her seal-skin.
 At corner store she purchased a basket to carry them home in; but she wended her way uptown her thoughts were not of the happiest. Her excite ment and indignation had subsided and she said to herself: What an advan- tage those horrid boys took of me! and how the girls will laugh at me, for it is useless to think of Hilda's picture nowm So by the time the school was reached she quite regretted her bargain, and was not reassured by meeting Bertha and May on the doorstep, one bearinga fancy basket heaped with golden Flor ida oranges and rich clusters of grapes, and the other box glittering with sil- yer and gold.
 Here comes Myrtle with her grand valentine, they exclaimed, ''do let us have peep at the mystery" But with shake of the head Myrtle dashed past them, upstairs, into her own cham Der; and here her room-mate, Daisy, found her an hour later, feeding the kittens with some milk she had begged from the cook, and watering their grimy little heads with her tears. Daisy came in like q small whirlwind, exclaiming, "Oh, Myrtle, l have or. dered the loveliest bouquet of roses; SC now, do let me see your valentine " Then stopping short. Why, where in the world did those scrawny creatures come from?n and then between crying and laughing Myrtle told how she had gone ont to get the beautiful pictures of "St. Valentine's EveN and come back with two half starved kittens instead ending with, "and now have only fifty cents left and don't know what to dc for Hilda, while you girls must feel as if had regularly cheated you
 "We won't at all, :" said Daisy, con. salingly, though you certainly are a queer girl, Myrtle" '1 know 1t j; mother always says l never look before